Mechanism for controlling the position of the direction-lever of a motor-driven vessel.



A. WINTON; MBGHANISM FOB CONTROLLNG THE POSITION OP THE DIRECTION LEVER OF A MOTOR DRIVEN VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a0, 1911.

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' MEOHANISM EOE GONTEOLLING THE POSITION OE THE DIEEOTION LEVER OE A MOTOR DRIVEN VESSEL.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. ao, 1911.

Patented Deo. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WJTNESSES TED STATES PATENT ortica.

ALEXANDER WINTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MECHANISM 'FOR CONTROLLING THE POSITION OF THE DIRECTION-LEVER 0F A MOTOR- DRIVEN VESSEL.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed September 3,0, 1911. Serial No. 652,060.

vTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER WINTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Controlling the1 Position of the Direction- Lever of a Motor-Driven Vessel, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the `accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for controlling the position of the direction lever of a motor driven vessel, and is more particularly designed to be used on boats which are propelled by gasolene motors, and in which the motor runs continuously in one direction.

Where the direct-ion of the motor is not changed, it is well-known to those skilled in this-art that the direction of the vessel is controlled either by an intervening mechanism or transmission gearin engine and the propeller sha t, orby a reversible or changeable blade propeller, and that in both mechanisms there is a lever which has a forward, a neutral and a reverse position.

The object of my present invention is to control the directlonI lever from a point considerably away from the lever and engine and, preferably, from a point adjacent the steering-wheel, whereby the wheelman may have the direction of the vessel immediately under his control, and thereby not dependent upon signals to an engineer or person at the engine, which, in large boats, is so located that the position and movement of the vessel cannot be determined by him.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of the interior of a motor driven vessel, showing therein a side elevation my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional' view, showing the position of the lever controlling mechanism when the lever is in a neutral position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the lever controlbetween the ling mechanism when the lever is in its forward position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the lever controlling mechanism in the position to return thel lever to neutral position. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position ofthe lever controlling mechanism when the lever is in its neutral or reverse position. y y

In Fig. l is shown the engine room 1, in which 2 is the engine, 3 a box or casi ug containing a transmission mechanism (notl shown) and La lever adapt/ad to control the ltransmission mechanism. It isl wellknown to those skilled in this nrtthat a transmission mechanism for motor boats is so arranged that when in neutral position the engine is disconnected from the propeller shaft; when in a forward position Athe engine is connected with the propeller shaft and rotates it in a direct-ion to move the boat forward, and when in backward or reverse position, the engine is connected with the propeller-shaft to carry thc boat backward, and as this forms no part of my present invention it is not here shown, and is not necessary to an understanding of the present improvement. Located adjacent the direction lever 4 is a cylinder 5, in which is located a piston 6, the stem or rod 7 of which is connected with the direction lever 4. The deck 8 of the vessel, as here shown, has located thereon a wheelmans platform 9, from which point the vessel is steered.

My present improvcment is to enable the direction lever to be controlled from he wheelmans position'or platform 9. This is accomplished by providing a hand-operated lever 10, at a convenient position for the wheelman and to connect this with `the mechanism which actuates the direction lever. As here shown this lever 10 is con.- nected with a vertical shaft 11, which passes through a suitable supporting standard 12. Located under this standard and within the `vessel cabin hold is a valve casing 13, and

located within this valve casing 13 is a valve pI, which is adapted to be oscillated inthe manner and for the purpose hereinafterlde- 30 haust through D. J. and F. 4 The pistonis I its opposite end connected 'with a supply 'tank G, or other source of air or liruid1 pressure. The pressure in this tank will be suppliedk in any suitable manner (not here shown) with air or water pressure and this in turn will pass to the valve casing 13 under the control of the valve I therein. This valve I has a port H, and also a port J, which coperates with the pipes A, B, C, D and F in a manner hereinafter shown and described to cause the piston 6 and the direction lever 4 to assume either a forward, neutral or reverse position, as desired, through the operation of the hand actuated lever 10, which is operatively connected, as above stated, with the valve I.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5 the piston 6 is in its central position, and the lever 4, Fig. 1, is in central or neutral position. When it is desired t0- carry the lever 4 to forward position, the valve I is placed in the .position shown in Fig. 3, which permits pressure to cylinder 5 through the-pipes A and B, and the exthen carried by the pressure to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the lever 4 is carried to forward position. To carry the ports to the backing position, the valve I is rst moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the pressure flows through pipe D and the exhaust through pipeB, chamber J and ipe'F until the piston 6 reaches the centra ortneutral position shown in Fig. 5. When the `piston reaches the position shown in Fig. 5 it cuts off the exhaust through B, chamber J and F, and permits pressure through pipes D,.C, I-I, and A, thus placing pressure u on opposite ends of the piston and thus holding the piston at neutral by reason ofthe pressure being balanced or equal on both ends of the piston 6. A furthermovement of the valve I to carry the right end of passage H between the pipes C and F and the opposite and leftend of the passage H will be closed by the wall of the valve chamber 13. Pressure is then cut o from A, and it iiows through C and D, and the exhaust passes through A, chamber J and pipe F, and the piston 6 is forced to the left end of cylinder 5, which is the backing position. The parts are returned to neutral and forward'positions by returning the valve first to the position shown in Fig-2 and then to the position vshown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 a hand lever 15 is located at the front endof the engine 2, and laired 16 conrecta this hand lever witbthe directon'lelpressure on either end only of said ver 4, whereby the direction levercangbe operated in the engine room, if for an reason it shouldbe desired to operate't e d1- rection lever by hand.

The pressure may be supplied either by an air-compressor operated by the engine, or by pressure taken directly from one or more of the engine-cylinders in the manner set forth in my co-pending application Serial Number 394,895, filed September 27th 1907.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a direction lever, a cylinder, a piston therein and operatively connected with said lever, a pressure supply, a valve casing having communication wit said supply, pipes establishing communication between the ends of said cylinder and said valve casing,. and pipes establishing communication between said casing and opand a manually operative valve in ,said casing controlling thev supply vthrough said pipes to said cylinder vfor the purpose described.

2. In a device of the 'character described, the combination ofV a direction lever, a cylinder, a piston in saidcylinder and operatively connected withsaid lever, a pressure supply, a valve casing in communication with said supply, two pipes establishing communication between the ends of said cylinder and said valve casing, two pipes establishing communication between sa1d.cas

`posite sides ofthe center 'of said cylinder,

ing and opposite sides of the Acenter of said cylinder, an exhaust passage for said valve casing, and a manually operative valve in said casing, said valve having a cross port, and a recess port, and a reduced center portion, the ports operating. substantially asV and for the purpose described.

3. A device of the character described,

comprisin a direction member, a clinder, a piston t erein lconnected with sai member, a pressure supply havin communications' with each end of the cyllnder and also at opposite sides of the center of the cylinder, a movable valve controlling said pressure supplies to cause4 balanced pressure on opposite sides of said iston when the piston reaches a substantiallycentral position in said cflinder, said-valve also adapted to' be move .to position-.to cause said supply onl for forcing it to either end of lsaid cylinder. 4. A device of the character described, comprising a direction member, a c linder, a piston therein with sai member, a pressure supplv havin 4a communication with each end o; said cy nder and also two communications 'at .pointabetween the ,ends of said cylinder, the -jpsten'being longer than the distance between the last balanced by said pressure in a substantially mentioned communications for the pur ose central position in said cylinder. 10 described, a movable valve for control ing I In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my said communications, the Valve having a signature in the presence of two witnesses.

5 cut-away portion and a transverse passage- ALEXANDER WINTON.

way whereby the valve may be placed in po- Witnesses: sitons to cause the pressure to force the BYRON B. BROCKWAY,

piston to either end of the cylinder, or be W. J. WARD. 

